Aikido of New Paltz Kamiza

My Aikido school moved to a new location and we needed a Kamiza (it’s a kind of shrine to the founder) that fit the HUGE new space. i had all this eastern poplar which isn’t the best stuff to build with but it worked PERFECTLY for this project, even the rotten spots look great (well i think so). the stuff is really light so the 2.5” slabs only weighed about 80lbs each. the big butterfly is salvaged mahogany and the other darker one is black walnut, the splines in the back are epay and they do the real work of holding the top beam together. the panels in the back are 4×8 oak ply so that should give you an idea of the scale. it will be getting a tung oil finish once the wood has had a chance to acclimate.

None of the above. I used to climb at the ‘gunks many years ago. But started aikido in Saranac Lake,NY then moved to Long Island but frequently traveled to New Paltz. A couple of times I had some time to kill so I went to see what I could see. It was never open when I was there, so never even met anyone. Nearest place to practice here is about an hour and a half away. I just can’t commit that kind of time.

-- Jim, Long Island, NY Ancorayachtservice.com home of the chain leg vise